Teen arrested for threatening to shoot up or bomb Sacramento high schools
Sacramento CA March 1 2019 Police arrested a teen early Tuesday morning in connection with social media posts containing direct threats to shoot up or bomb multiple high schools in the city, the Sacramento Police Department said in a news release.
Police first received reports at about 9:19 p.m. Monday of an Instagram account making “viral” posts threatening to shoot up or detonate explosives at multiple high schools. Dispatchers, detectives and school resource officers received more than 100 calls relating to the threats, according to the release.
Officers detained a boy about 3 a.m. Tuesday, and he was arrested for terrorist threats, police said. The suspect’s identity would not be released because he is a minor, police said.
Detectives determined there is no credible threat to area schools related to the Instagram posts or the suspect. The investigation remains active, the department said in Tuesday’s release.
Elk Grove Unified School District sent an email notifying parents that social media threats were reported to Valley High School officials, and informing that law enforcement determined there was no threat to the school.
Sacramento City Unified School District also issued a written statement, posted to Facebook just after 7 a.m.,addressing the arrest and saying campuses would be open as normal Tuesday.
“Last night you may have heard about an Instagram threat directed at some our high schools,” Sacramento City Unified’s post said. “We want you to know that the Sacramento Police Department has arrested the individual who made the threats. Please rest assured that it is safe to come to school. See you in class!”
The district also sent a voicemail to parents with a similar message to the written statement, adding: “There is no credible threat to our schools.”
Sacramento police urge anyone with information regarding potential school violence to call the department’s communication center at 916-808-5471.
SAC BEE
